Coumba Sidibe, whose first album was the highest-selling album in Africa for a female vocalist, is known the world over as the multi-titled Queen of Wassulu (Wassoulou) music.

Coumba's rise to eminence began when she was a leading singer with the group L'Ensemble Instrumentale du Mali and her presence brought Mali's Wassulu tradition of singing to the forefront of the world music scene. Cited by Oumou Sangare and Ramata Diakate as being a primary influence, to say that Coumba Sidibe is a legend does not capture the range and depth of her influence.

She now lives in New York.